Your wife's last words had been a criticism of your content ways, and though you knew she would speak once again, Yeqerta did not need a ruler without a flame in his heart.
On the same note, the assassin striking Skye had been a alarm as clear as any town bell. In this time of Carrion Lords, danger lurked at the boundaries, and constant vigilance was the only counter. You would not let your family come to harm again.
Never again.
Focus: Intrigue selected. Jove's Intrigue increases by 3. Jove's Intrigue is now 8.
~~~~~
During the time of Donovan Ravenswood, Skye had served as the Captain of the Guard, and the position was left vacant after her ascent to the throne. While there was no shortage of candidates, there were very few who could match Skye in terms of war, she made a misstep which left your family in danger. The Captain of the Guard was not just the leader of the Ravenswood retinue, but also the chief bodyguard, the lack of which weakened the castle's security enough for a killer to slip in.
With the need for vigilance now exceedingly clear, you began the search for a competent candidate. Even with the search narrowed to members of your wife's retinue, a strong contender emerged. Captain Zappelli of Skye's Zouave detachment was well known for his unerring aim and his loyalty to the Ravenswoods. Beyond his strength at arms, he was well liked by his men for his calm and quiet demeanor, as well as his professionalism. Of the candidates you found, there were few more qualified than Zappelli, though there were rumors of a hidden cruelty within the soldier.
Regardless, Zappelli was an investment you were willing to make, and he was given the post with little ceremony. If a second assassin lurked in the castle, Zappelli would serve as a wall against the threat.
Zapelli has become Captain of the Guard for House Ravenswood, Relevant stats: Martial 16, Intrigue 11.
~~~~~
Within a week of Zapelli's appointment, you traveled to the Knightdom of Maskax to meet with Cilmi. Some things were better discussed in person.
You met Cilmi not in DeGrasse Castle, but in his vassal's manor in Dubblann. From the rumors you were able to gather, it seems he decided to oversee the preparations to his expedition personally when he wasn't conducting Alric's business.
After announcing your presence at the door and your intentions, you were quickly ushered to what was once a receiving room, though from the stacks of papers and books everywhere, it was clearly Cilmi's office. "Ah, and there's the other half of the Ravenswoods."
"Pleasure to see you too, Knight."
"A formal visit then. Well, that more courtesy than I expected. Your wife could learn a thing or two from you." He moved to a pair of couches separated by a small coffee table, seating himself before gesturing to the other. You accepted his offer, and once seated, you got to the heart of the matter.
"I've come here to renegotiate my wife's contributions to your expedition."
"I hope you're not trying to get the Lien and Dust back, Jove. If you came back for such a paultry sum, I worry for the finances of your wife's house."
You hold your hands in a soothing motion. "I'm not trying to get the Lien nor the Dust, Knight. The Grimm population in Yeqerta has been surging recently, and our Huntsmen are required now more than ever."
"Your wife did promise all the Huntsmen under her employ for my expedition, which I have always regarded as something as foolish for such a martial minded woman." '
Asshole.' You think to yourself as he continued, "The Huntsmen represent the largest contribution to the expedition, and I'm afraid without them you would only get a smattering of the most minor artifacts, once my more generous had their lion's share of the haul. Nevertheless, there's nothing stopping you from pulling your support. In any case, the expedition will be underway by this time next year, so if your wife changes her mind, I would be delighted to have them.
"Now, unless you have anything more to say, I believe the negotiations have concluded. Feel free to stay in my lands until you are prepared to set off again."
"Actually, there is one more thing. As my wife's Huntsmen are unavailable, I would like to offer a few barrels of High Purity Yellow Dust. I brought the barrels with me, and I had a number of your merchants confirm the purity." You drew a small stack of papers from your bag, each one containing the signature of a respected merchant confirming your statement. As Cilmi looked over the papers, he nodded.
"Well, you're certainly more surprising than your wife. Give her my regards."
Expedition contributions renegotiated, Cilmi's Relation to Jove increases from (1/10) to (3/10), Expedition to Dr. Merlot's Island will begin in one year, One Unit of High Purity Yellow Dust removed.
~~~~~
While you prepared for the return trip to Yeqerta, a messenger from the docks informed you of the arrival of one of your ships. The aptly name
Mercantile Rose, the same ship you had commissioned to travel to Festival before your overland trip to Maskax, was back in port weeks before their intended arrival. At first you were worried she was forced back to port by pirates, but they were soon dispelled when you saw the ship. While there were places where the wood had splintered from strikes, the crew worked with an almost victorious air.
The true reason for their haste in returning became clear when you met with the ship's captain. As soon as you walked in, he placed a rifle on the table. "This is what we got, as well as a few more in the hold."
You blinked and looked at the gun, seeing little more than a weapon. "I don't see why you rushed back with just this."
"Here, let me show you." He picked up the gun, and ran his finger under the barrel. "Notice something missing?"
You paused for a moment before it hit you. "The ram rod."
"Aye. They don't load it from the front. Here, watch this." He pulled back the hammer and then pulled back a smaller section, revealing the gun's chamber. "They call it a rolling block. Hammer down, pull back the block, and insert a cartridge. Now here's the fun thing." The captain pulled out a small, gleaming object which looked vaguely like a paper cartridge with a red tip. "They don't use paper up there. This is their cartridge: brass metal with a bullet which fires out." He slid the brass in, closed the block and made certain his finger was off the trigger. "Now it can be fired. They held a demonstration, testing to see who could fire five rounds faster, a musket or one of these. It won by the time the musket could fire three.
"One more thing, and you'll love this. There's fire Dust in that cartridge. Incendiary, they called it. Good for setting things on fire, and they hit a lot harder than normal Dust. We bought ways to refine red Dust as well, so you can thank me now."
"Honestly, thank you."
"Yeah, just one would have made dodging pirates worth it. With these though, we got to see their sails go up in smoke." You think the cruel smile on the captain's face was completely justified.
Traders acquire hidden technology Firearms 1, Dust Refining (Red). Dust Ammo can now be used. Learning Action: Refine Dust added.
~~~~~
"Thrust! Parry!" Zappelli ordered as he shifted his saber, moving his blade to meet your rapier. The weapons were honed to a killing edge, the blunted weapons you had brought to the training ground on the ground where he threw them. You had to admit, you didn't expect to spar when you asked him to tutor you in strategy.
"Focus!" He yelled, sending a slash at your midsection. "Your right flank is collapsing, a cavalry charge on your left." You blocked with your buckler, sweating as much from the blows as the mental work.
"I order the left to form squares, rifles supported by spears. I send what men I can spare to the right-"
The Captain of the Guard kicked you as if he was forcing open a door, knocking you down as he mounted you. "Wrong! Your right has shattered, your left is surrounded by cavalry, and your center is caught between the two!" He raised his saber to slash at your neck, only to be forced back by a desperate punch with the edge of your buckler aimed at his chin.
"I order my zouave to target officers, causing as much chaos in their ranks as I can while my forces regroup."
Zappelli paused, as if he was considering your answer. "Not very honorable."
"If I win, then I'll be the one to write the histories. I can make it as honorable as I want."
The Captain of the Guard smiled as he stood, extending a hand to you. "I think we'll make a soldier out of you yet. Again."
Jove Martial increased by 1.
~~~~~
You never knew what to expect when one of the spymaster's letters showed up under one of your books. You never saw the man, but if he thought he could avoid the blame for allowing an assassin into Skye's castle, you would prove him wrong. Any punishments you had in mind would have to wait, as you saw another of his reports sticking out of one of your books like a bookmark.
The report was brief. "Underworld of Yeqerta scoured. No sign of people who would benefit from Grimm. Found conspiracy, separate. Dungeon, cell 3. Keyword: Seekers of the Eternal Dawn." The report listed the names of several scholars, minor nobles and the like. They were a disparate group, men of the cloth brushing elbows with the High Marshal of Skye's Zouave lodge and even a few of your father's trusted merchants. If the mysterious spymaster's words could be trusted, then this could be quite dangerous.
Dressing, you armed yourself with a concealed dagger just in case. In the pre-dawn morn, the castle was slow in it's waking, giving you ample privacy for the questioning. If this so called conspiracy was dangerous, it would be best if you silenced it without anyone knowing.
The dungeon was cold, quiet and nigh empty. There had been few cases which required imprisonment within the castle, leaving it utterly silent. Grabbing an torch from the wall, you struck it as you walked to the third cell. Using the castle's master key, you opened the thick door, revealing a man in the attire of a minor noble chained to the wall. A blindfold was over his eyes, and he looked up. "Who's there?"
You closed the door behind you and walked towards the man. "I'm the one who wants to know what the 'Seekers of the Eternal Dawn' is."
The prisoner shuffled against his bonds. "I won't say anything to someone I don't know."
"So there is something to that. Hold still." Stepping closer, you removed his blindfold. The noble closed his eyes at the sudden reintroduction of light, and he seemed shocked when he opened his eyes.
"Sir Jove?!"
"Yes. Now, tell me about your conspiracy."
"There is-" He started, before you cut him off.
"If you're going to lie, make it a good one." You stated, forcing some conviction into your voice. Your prisoner was silent for a moment, before beginning again.
"To reveal secrets to the uninitiated is-"
"I don't care."
The noble mulled over his options, and you were about to shout at him when he spoke up. "My name is Wynn Westcott, and I am a Magi, and member of the Seekers of the Golden Dawn. We are a hermetic order dedicated to personal development through the study of the Classical Elements, Dust, the natural world, and the spiritual world. Your next question," Wynn continued, "Is why we keep ourselves secret. The Synod had that oh so popular statement "Suffer not the witch to live." While they pointed that proclamation to the other faiths while calling for a crusade, my order falls under that same umbrella."
"So you study magic?" You said with a measure of derision. Wynn seemed to take offense to your tone.
"We don't put stock in fairy tales, Sir. We don't pretend to be able to call lightning down from the sky, or fly without the aid of Dust. We study the stars, the art of alchemy, and the spiritual world. We're not fools, good Sir. Now what else do you want to know?"
"Alright, let's get to the cusp of the matter. Are you the ones causing this surge of the Grimm?"
Wynn grew furious at the statement and he roared "Pit no! The Grimm are an abomination on Remnant! They are nothing but monsters here to devour men's souls! No on in my order would be so idiotic as to believe the Grimm are anything more than that! What do you take us for, power mad idiots who think they can make use of the Grimm?!"
There was very little room in the Magi's fury for lies, so you were forced to scratch the Seekers of the Golden Dawn off your list of suspects. With the evidence you had in your possession, you found it hard to believe another conspiracy could take root with the Seekers already in place. There could be nothing else on a suitable scale as to cause the Grimm Serge. All that remained was what to do with the conspiracy.
[] Join the society: If the order was not the source of the Grimm surge, then they could be a useful web of contacts to have in the future. Besides, if their drivel actually contained something useful, you could better help Skye that way. Perhaps Wynn would be open to accepting an apprentice.
[] Suppress the society: Peaceful or not, the Seekers of the Golden Dawn are still a conspiracy which was opposed by the church and a possible danger to your family. Removing Wynn and dissuading others from joining the society could do much to strengthen your family's security.
[] Deal with the society later: Wynn is not threat to you while he is in the dungeon, and you doubt the society knows of your knowledge just yet. You can come to a decision later.
Conspiracy found: Secret Society [Brotherhood of the Eternal Dawn], Grimm Source is not a secret organization. Search for Grimm Source (Skullduggery) removed.
